NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People with very low
cholesterol levels seem to be at increased risk of developing
stomach cancer, Japanese researchers report.

Some studies have linked low cholesterol levels to higher
death rates from cancer in general, Dr. Kouichi Asano, of
Kyushu University, Fukuoka, and colleagues explain in the
International Journal of Cancer. "With respect to gastric
cancer, a limited number of studies suggest this inverse
association, while others do not."

The researcher looked into this in a study involving some
2,600 residents of Hisayama, Japan, who were followed for 14
years.

Gastric cancers developed in 97 subjects. After accounting
for age and gender, stomach cancer rates rose significantly
with descending cholesterol level. For example, among subjects
with the highest cholesterol levels, the gastric cancer rate
was the equivalent of 2.1 cases per 1000 persons per year;
among those with the lowest cholesterol, the rate was 3.9 per
1000 person-years.

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"Our data suggest that patients with low serum cholesterol
should consider regular gastro-intestinal examination for the
prevention of gastric cancer," the investigators conclude.